Tullar's Weekly (October 1923)

WHAT’S WHAT ON THE SENNETT LOT Increased facilities and the addition of new players for the several pro- ducing units on the Mack Sennett lot have thrown the operating forces of the big comedy organization into high gear. Billy Bevan has returned after a long vacation in the northern woods, where he and Mrs. Bevan spent many weeks hunting and fishing, to say nothing of the explorations made far into the interior of the country by motor and horseback. Kalla Pasha, Billy Francy and Fred Spencer, all well and favorably known to patrons of the screen, have been re- assembled and, with Madeleine Hur- lock and Bevan, make up the prnici- pal names in the cast for a new satire, the majority of which will be taken along the rocky coast above Santa Barbara, under the direction of Earl Kenton. This comedy produc- tion, which as yet has not been ittled, is expected to be one of Sen- nett’s most pretentious two-reelers. In another company, Roy Del Ruth has started the direction of a story in which the principal parts are being played by Alberta Vaughn, Billy Arm- strong, Harry Gribbon, Majorie Bon- ner and Kewpie Morgan. In this pic- ture, Sennett’s baby star, Jackie Lu- cas, will make his third start. This will be Miss Marjorie Bon- ner’s first appearance in a Mack Sen- nett comedy. She is a sister of Pris- cilla Bonner, well-known dramatic and comedy-drama leading woman, and who, by the way, played one of the featured parts in “Where’s My Wan- dering Boy This Evening?’’ also “Pit- falls of a Big City,” in which Ben Tur- pin was the star. Del Lord has returned from his short vacation and is busy making ad- vance preparations for his next start, in a few days. Later announcement of the story and cast given him will be made. F. Richard Jones, under whose su- pervision the ocmedy units operate, is also very busy making ready to get under way with his next big starring vehicle for Mabel Normand, to be known as “Mary Anne.” George Jeske, Hal Roach comedy director, has been yelling “Squads right!” until he feels like an army drill sergeant. He is making a new Stan Laurel comedy at the Hal Roach Studios for Pathe release, and uses a typical “awkward squad” of army “rookies.” When he lined them up for infantry drill he didn’t have to re- hearse the scene once. “We’11 take it the first time,” he yelled. “You fellows are awkward enough without any practice.” John T. Parkerson, European repre- sentative of Fox News, has been tak- ing tea with royalty. He presented to Queen Willielmina of Holland a spe- cial reel made by Fox News and tendered to - Her Majesty with the compliments of William Fox. Louis H. Tolhurst, the inventor, whose microscopic picture of The Ant is attracting much attention at the Criterion Theatre, Los Angeles, in conjunction with Chaplin’s “A Woman of Paris,” declares that in his fourth production he will show the world the most unusual motion picture ever screened. It is that of a caterpillar undergoing the transformation from its worm-like form into that of the nymph or cocoon stage. Every feature of this marvelous metamorphosis is revealed under the searching power of the Tolhurst “cool” light, and magnified mightily on the screen. Six hours of constant vigilance were spent by the scientist at his motion picture camera, equipped with its magnifying appa- ratus, so that the complete stages of this transformation are shown—a ver- itable convulsion of Nature within the tiny limits of a cocoon. This series is being made by Tol- hurst and presented by Sol Lesser of Principal Pictures Corporation. Edu- cational Films have taken the entire series for distribution. The subjects are called “Secrets of Life” series. CHRISTIE COMEDIES WILL AID IN CIVILIZATION PLANS IN HAITI By arrangement with Colonel Theo- dore Roosevelt, acting Secretary of the Navy, and Will H. Hays, Christie Comedies will play a part in the film program of civilization and education of inhabitants in the interior of the Island of Hatai, under the direction of the Haitian Gendarmerie, which is offi- cered and operated by officers of the TJ. S. Navy and Marine Corps. According to Colonel Roosevelt and Capt. John H. Craige, the latter of the Marine Corps, most of the population in the interior are in a state of almost complete savagery, and less than one per cent are able to read or write. “Under these circumstances,” declares Colonel Roosevelt, “the officers of the Haitian Gendarmerie have turned to the moving picture as a means of con- veying to the Haitians of the interior some idea of the civilized world. Also, they find that an occasional moving picture is a matter of tremendous in- terest and will furnish a whole coun- tryside with topics of conversation for weeks and months, and exercises a most beneficial effect on the morale of the people.” Prints of Christie Comedies, as well as other films through the Hays organ- ization, are being forwarded for use in Haiti under supervision of the U. S. Marine Corps. Officers of the corps will carry projecting machines and ex- hibit the films in the small native vil- lages in accordance with Colonel Roosevelt’s plan. It is announced that the territory covered by these moving picture shows does not conflict in any way with the commercial showings of pic- tures in those countries, and thus the moving picture industry will be of great service in aiding this govern- ment work of civilization. Will Rogers has begun a new cow- boy comedy at the Hal Roach studios. The story is by Hal Conklin and Jay Howe. Howe is directing the picture, assisted by D. Ross Lederman. Marie Mosquini is playing opposite Rogers. “Family Life” is the title which has been given to the sixth Mermaid com- edy. It was directed by Bob Kerr and is a laugh generator of the complica- tions incident to the ownership of an unbalanced flivver, life in auto camps and a husband addicted to—fishing! The cast includes Mark Jones, Ruth Hiatt, Sunshine Hart, Otto Fries and Tommy Hicks. “Heads Up” is the title given to the second Cameo comedy. It was di- rected by Norman Taurog, and the cast includes Cliff Bowes, Ruth Hiatt, George Ovey and Mark Jones. Little Jackie Morgan, who is playing Chester in the Gump pictures at the Universal, has had an unusual career, considering his age. This little he- vamp made fifty of more pictures with Baby Peggy and Brownie, the wonder dog. at Century, before being placed under long term contract with Van Runkle Productions. He has played with over a dozen of the screen’s lead- ing stars. Stan Laurel autographs his photo- graphs “Bright-eyed Dumbell.” That is his pet nickname on the Hal Roach lot. Hal Roach’s “Spat Family” believe in being just a bit ahead of the times. They are on location just now doing “Spring Housecleaning,” which pro- vides the theme of their next comedy. Marie Mosquini will play the part of a popular “schoolmarm” in Will Rogers' cowboy comedy, now being filmed at the Hal Roach Studios. ^lllll!lllllll!IIIIII!!l!!nillllIl!lllllllllll!HIIIIllI!il!!llll!lI!l[lll>!lll[IIIIIIII!!!lll!llll[!llllll[IIIIII!llllll!!!!IIII[||[!l!lllll|[|||l!j I Theater | Needed I If you want to put in a | I theater in Hollywood, in | ■ a neighborhood that is not 1 1 now served, but which will | I support one in fine shape, | | let me hear from you. This | | is a tip for somebody on § f a good thing. | | I have no interest in the | 1 matter, except that I own | | my home in the neighbor- | | hood in question and know § | what I am talking about. | Some exhibitor who | | wants to make a change | | can make some money. EDITOR. ■ | Sll!!1lllllll!IIIIIIII!!!lllllllli[llll!!!ll!!1l!lllll!lll!Illllllll[llllll[lll!I!l!lllll!!llll!lllllll!llll!ll!llllllllllll!lll!IIIIIII!llllll!!lllM